Afghan Youth Cultural Foundation

Afghans for Civil Society

Three-month preparatory course for the National College entrance examination for 50 girls in Kandahar city; Discussion groups in Kandahar province for 200 community leaders in Pashto on 10 topics related to women’s rights within an Islamic perspective.

Aria Services and Rehabilitation Organization for Afghanistan

Awaz Production

Production of seven video quiz shows related to increasing citizens’ awareness about political processes. The shows were recorded in seven different regions across Afghanistan and were telecast nationally on the national Television of Afghanistan.

Books for Asia Afghanistan

Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS)

Analytical write-up on “Contemporary Challenges to Human Security in Afghanistan” using data from the Foundation’s 2006 public opinion poll, Afghanistan in 2006, A Survey of Afghan People. Developed as part of a companion set of analytical papers on the survey for publication in December 2006; Participation in negotiating a National Peace and Unity Forum.

Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA)

Participation in three modules of Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) training by 52 master trainers representing FEFA in all provinces, with staff of the Independent Election Commission; Participation by FEFA core staff in management skills trainings conducted by BRAC; Participation by member organizations of the FEFA network in financial training; Core FEFA staff continued English-language courses.

Ghazi Mohammad Jan Khan Scientific Association (GMJKSA)

Awareness-raising through banners, posters, and poetry on the National Assembly and provincial councils was included as part of the annual Apple Flower Festival in Wardak province. This one-day event gathered more than 2,000 community participants from civil society groups, government, and academia.

Health and Development Center for Afghan Women (HDCAW)

Production of five editions of the interactive comic magazine, Roshani, targeting young high school students on information related to government structures, the constitution, and the National Assembly. Each edition of the magazine was printed in 7,000 copies and distributed in eight provinces.

Hijarat Welfare Organization

Just for Afghan Capacity and Knowledge (JACK)

Production of eight television dramas to inform citizens about political rights of citizens, the new parliament, and role of provincial councils. These video dramas were broadcast in both Badakhshan province and Takhar province television stations; the audio version of these dramas was aired on local radio stations.

Study Tours

Two study tours facilitated for Independent Election Commission (IEC) commissioners, the chief electoral officer, and heads of departments to India and Australia to exchange with the respective election commissions. Through the tour, IEC gained fruitful experiences regarding elections in more developed democracies and exchanged with them the situation prevailing during elections in Afghanistan.

Study Tours

Participation of five religious officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Awqaaf in a four-day study tour to Bangladesh to observe and learn from the successful USAID-funded Leaders Outreach Initiative program; Reciprocal exchange visit from three religious officials from Bangladesh to Afghanistan for a four-day visit.

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance through five international consultants and three national consultants to support the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in the following areas: improve policy development through effective information collection systems; strengthen capacity of ministry provincial offices; establish a Media and Communications Directorate and Office of the MoWA spokesperson.

Women Council at Kabul University (WCKU)

Editorial board to develop and approve content for 50 articles in Dari and Pashto to post on the on the Women and Islam Afghanistan page of the website at www.womenandislam.net. Content included the spiritual role of women in Afghan society, women and social and political participation, Gender Equality in Islam, legal rights of women in Islam, violence against women, Islamic Perspective of Hijab, and Qur’anic References to Women.

Afghan Civil Society Voices Conference in Tokyo

Working with Afghan civil society groups to select and facilitate the participation of 30 delegates at a high-level conference with international donors and government officials in Tokyo. Of the 30 delegates, half are women and 16 are from provinces other than Kabul.

Afghan University Student Exchange Program II (AUSEP II)

Providing administrative and logistical support to design and implement an intensive four-week professional English-language teaching training program at the Regional Institute of English (RIE) in Chandigarh, India. Participants include two separate groups of 25 fourth-year English majors and 2012 graduates from Afghan universities, as well as a university-affiliated leader for each group.

Afghan University Student Exchange Program III (AUSEP III)

Enhancing and broadening the professional skill sets of potential English-language instructors for Afghan universities. Developing cross-cultural understanding and exchange between Afghanistan, India, and the United States.

Afghan University Student Exchange Program in India (AUSEP)

Providing Afghan university English majors and recent graduates with the opportunity to gain intensive professional English-language teaching training in India, and preparing them for future careers as university English instructors in Afghanistan.

Afghan e-Learning English Support Project (AeLESP)

Supporting the Washington State University (WSU) Afghan e-Learning and English Support Project (AeLESP), which promotes e-learning and computer-assisted English language learning capabilities at seven universities in Afghanistan.

Al-Azhar Training Pre-Departure Orientation Workshop

Providing support to delegates selected by the British Embassy in Kabul, in coordination with Al-Azhar University in Cairo, to attend training at the World Association of Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG) in Cairo on topics including human rights, women's rights, dialogue and tolerance, development, state and citizenship, Fatwa, and relations between religions.

Books For Asia

Since 2002, The Asia Foundation's BFA program has donated 410,000 books, journals, and other educational materials to nearly 2,000 institutes in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan including provincial schools, public libraries, universities, and teacher training centers in support of youth and adult literacy, and nongovernmental organizations and government ministries. In 2012, BFA donated a special collection of 1.2 million Hoopoe children storybooks on traditional Afghan tales in Dari, Pashto, and English to 548 schools in 33 provinces throughout Afghanistan. The Carnegie funds supported an ocean shipment, domestic transportation, and library-related activities.

Building Peace in Afghanistan: Institutional Support to the National Consultative Peace Jirga

Improving communication and coordination between governmental and nongovernmental peace workers to increase the local sense of ownership, address legitimacy of efforts, and nurture long-term sustainability. Restoring relationships between community members by operating on the ground level and making recommendations to more effectively execute peace-building efforts from the ground to the national level.

Enhancing Participation and Protection of Citizens' Democratic Rights in Afghanistan

Identifying, training, and registering female election observers, and organizing mock elections as electoral education activities to support Afghan CSOs to raise public awareness, especially among women, about civic rights and democratic electoral processes. Supporting the development and effectiveness of the Afghan election NGOs to improve election management systems and electoral justice mechanisms.

Enhancing the Capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to Implement the Natural Resources Management Program under the National Agriculture Development Framework in Afghanistan

Developing, protecting, and promoting the sustainable use of Afghanistan's natural resource base for improved environmental condition and rural livelihoods by enhancing the technical capacities of MAIL and other relevant partners for the successful implementation of selected components of the National Agriculture Development Framework in Afghanistan, particularly the Natural Resources Management program.

Expanding International Ties to Support Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage

Strengthening and expanding ties between the United States and the political leadership in Ghazni province through an exchange program that demonstrates the U.S. Government's commitment to the preservation and promotion of Ghazni's cultural heritage under the banner of "Ghazni 2013." Providing administrative and logistical support for a delegation of Americans to Afghanistan (Kabul and Ghazni) and of Afghans to the United States (Washington, D.C., and Hayward, California—Ghazni's sister city).

Increasing Women's Rights and Access to Justice in Afghanistan

Addressing critical gaps in access to justice for Afghan women by promoting a legal framework that protects women's rights; increasing government commitment to and awareness of problems women face in claiming their legal rights to inform and influence policy decisions; providing quality, previously unavailable legal services to women in the provinces; and fostering cooperation between women's legal aid services and local shuras and jirgas that make decisions about many issues in their community affecting women.

Institutionalizing the Survey of the Afghan People (ISAP)

Building on the Survey of the Afghan People to gather first-hand opinions from a broad and nationally representative sample of Afghan citizens on a variety of contemporary governance and development-related issues. Providing policymakers in government, the international community, and the broader Afghan public with reliable data as they make decisions and craft future policy.

Office of Administrative Affairs and Council of Ministers Secretariat (Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) – Capacity Enhancement Program (ACME)

Providing training and support for key staff in the Office of Administrative Affairs and Council of Ministers Secretariat to improve the effectiveness of their operations and coordination with other ministries.

Performance Based Governance Fund II (PBGF II)

Continuing the work of the initial phase of PBGF to assist the Afghan government in strengthening subnational governance at the provincial levels. Focusing on capacity-building initiatives aimed at developing the skills of Provincial Governor Office staff to improve their ability to manage future projects and better design operational budgeting.

Raising Public Awareness and Strengthening the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs, and Disabled (MoLSAMD) to Better Protect the Rights of Workers in Afghanistan, Phase II

Expanding the work of Phase I to evaluate Afghanistan's 2007 labor law for compliance with International Labor Standards, and strengthening MoLSAMD's ability to enforce it. Increasing understanding and awareness of the law and international labor standards among other relevant Afghan partners in Balkh, Herat, and Kabul.

Strengthening Education in Afghanistan (SEA)

Addressing higher and basic education needs in accordance with the government's strategic objective of expanding access to education. Providing technical and programmatic assistance to education institutions and NGOs, with an emphasis on women.

Strengthening Organizations Engaged in Civic Education and Elections

Building the skills of civil society organizations, government bodies, and political parties involved in civic education and elections processes by providing learning-by-doing training sessions in communications, finance, monitoring and evaluation, and democracy, elections, and governance. Supporting the goals and objectives of the Independent Election Commission, political parties, and various members of Afghan civil society.

Local Partners:

Afghan Institute of Business Management; Afghanistan Association of Electoral Officials; Afghanistan Financial Services; Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan; Members of the Afghan BRIDGE Community; Peace and Humanitarian Organization

Support to Lama-e-Shaheed High School

Establishing a computer center at the Lama-e-Shaheed Girls' High School in Kabul to provide 900 students in grades 10-12 with the devices, software, and Internet research training necessary to develop critical computer literacy skills.

Survey of the Afghan People

Gathering first-hand opinions from a broad and nationally representative sample of Afghan citizens on a variety of contemporary governance and development-related issues. Providing policymakers in government, the international community, and the broader Afghan public with reliable data as they make decisions and craft future policy.

Traditional Leaders Discovery Project (TLDP)

Increasing the engagement and knowledge of male and female religious and tribal leaders with the wider Islamic world through a series of exchange visits to other Muslim countries. Contributing to a broader understanding of how scholars and community leaders of other Muslim nations are able to accommodate and negotiate with contemporary issues of human rights, women's rights, democracy, minority rights, ethics, tolerance and social development, and transitional justice.

Trust Building Initiatives between State and Non-State Institutions in Faryab Province (FTBI)

Responding to the heavy impact, from many years of disruption and conflict, on government and civil institutions in Faryab province to strengthen the role of the formal legal system; promote social stability; and build trust among local communities, traditional leaders, and the Afghan government. Working with both governmental and nongovernmental institutions, religious leaders and institutions, community leaders, and youth to reduce the gap between government and people, convene consultation workshops, establish resources such as libraries in private madrassas, engage increase diverse stakeholders' representation in the community decision-making process, and strengthen local governance. Conducting baseline capacity assessments and tailoring follow-on training activities for government departments, including the Ministries of Women's Affairs, Education, and Hajj and Religious Affairs; the Attorney General's Office; the Provincial Governor's Office; and the National Environmental Protection Agency.

Women's Access to Justice Model Community Program (A2J MCP)

Improving access to justice for women in Kunduz province by working with both men and women to increase community understanding and support of women's rights among local women and key provincial actors, including religious and tribal leaders, public officials, the police, and household members.

2011 Survey of the Afghan People: Washington DC Release

Accessing Justice in Afghanistan

A breakfast discussion with the program manager in The Asia Foundation's Afghanistan office, sharing insights on the current situation facing Afghan women and how engaging men can improve social justice for women.

Advancing Human Rights and Women's Rights within an Islamic Framework across South Asia

Promoting gender equity and women's rights within an Islamic framework in South Asia, as part of a regional program across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through: developing a training curriculum for Muslim leaders on women's human rights; fostering an exchange of ideas and discourse in South Asia on the relationship of Islam, human rights, and women's rights; creating a locally appropriate training curriculum for religious leaders in South Asia to advance social justice for women; and expanding and strengthening regional networks of Muslim scholars and leaders working to advance women's rights in the context of Islam.

Advancing Human Rights and Women's Rights within an Islamic Framework across South Asia

Promoting gender equity and women's rights within an Islamic framework in South Asia, as part of a regional program across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through: developing a training curriculum for Muslim leaders on women's human rights; fostering an exchange of ideas and discourse in South Asia on the relationship of Islam, human rights, and women's rights; creating a locally appropriate training curriculum for religious leaders in South Asia to advance social justice for women; and expanding and strengthening regional networks of Muslim scholars and leaders working to advance women's rights in the context of Islam.

Afghan Minister of Education

A delegation including Afghanistan's minister of education, to visit Washington and Charlottesville, Virginia, as part of a series of high-level meetings to observe the functioning of the American public education system and to meet with American educators to exchange ideas and best practices.

Afghanistan University Student Exchange Program to India

Providing Afghan university English majors and recent graduates with the opportunity to gain intensive professional English-language teaching training in India, and prepare them for future careers as university English instructors in Afghanistan.

Belgian Small Grants Program for Bamiyan and Kunduz Provinces

Increasing the range and quality of services available in the Bamiyan and Kunduz provinces by providing financial support and capacity building to civil society organizations delivering educational, programmatic, and economic services in these provinces.

Books for Asia Afghanistan

Acquisition and distribution of 30,000 books, 245 journals, and 882 educational CDs to 173 schools, universities, public libraries, and other institutions in Afghanistan. In addition, distribution of 64,600 Hoopoe books to 323 schools.

Building Peace in Afghanistan: Institutional Support to the National Consultative Peace Jirga

Improving communication and coordination between governmental and non-governmental peace workers to increase the local sense of ownership, addressing legitimacy of efforts, and nurturing long-term sustainability. Restoring relationships between community members by operating on the ground-level and making recommendations to more effectively execute peacebuilding efforts from the ground to the national-level.

DFID Partnership Program Agreement: Conflict and Security Programs

Regional partnership with the Department for International Development (U.K.), including 7 countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Thailand, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka), that is working to improve state-society relations in conflict-affected areas throughout the region. Helping to reduce mistrust and alienation between conflict-affected communities and state authorities. Strengthening and expanding locally driven efforts to improve governance and resolve disputes. Contributing to improved understanding of aid effectiveness in conflict-affected and fragile states.

English Language Fellows Program

Contributing to the quality of English-language education in Afghanistan through placement of English Language Fellows in Afghan universities. Enhancing the English-language capabilities of Afghan faculty and students at Kabul University, Kabul Educational University, Herat University, and Herat Educational University through improved curricula, teacher training, and teaching methods imparted by the English Language Fellows.

Ghazni, Afghanistan–Hayward, California Sister City Exchange

A delegation from Ghazni, Afghanistan visiting the Washington, DC area to promote goodwill and friendship and highlight the city's selection as the 2013 Capital of Islamic Culture. The delegation of Afghan government officials, including the governor of Ghazni as well as Afghan journalists, visited the nation's capital for a series of meetings before traveling to Hayward, California, the Sister City of Ghazni.

Ghazni-Hayward Exchange

Coordination of U.S. Embassy-funded exchanges between the Sister Cities of Hayward, California, and the historic city and province of Ghazni, Afghanistan, with the dual focus on exploring good governance and promoting awareness of Ghazni designation as a "Capital of Islamic Culture" in 2013.

Increasing Women's Rights and Access to Justice in Afghanistan

Building broad-based support for women’s rights in Afghanistan and increasing the capacity of the Department of Women’s Affairs (DoWA) to effectively advocate for, represent, and counsel women; and working in close partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Office of the State Minister for Parliamentarian Affairs, relevant government bodies and officials, key religious leaders, and local partners to implement the program. Striving to set a stage for the mainstreaming of women’s rights in Afghanistan by working with religious leaders and key government officials toward the dissemination of women’s rights information to local communities.

Local Partners:

Opinion Research Center of Afghanistan; Research and Cultural Center of Imam Shaibani

India as a Regional Resource

Facilitating training and exchange programs for other Asia Foundation offices, including: participation by three Indian experts in the Asian Approaches to Development Cooperation Dialogue; visits to New Delhi by four senior facilitators of the Nepal Transition to Peace project; participation by two Indians in a Leaders of Influence study program in Bangladesh; participation of 50 Afghan students in English-language training programs in Chandigarh and Hyderabad; and placement and monitoring of two Luce Scholars in India.

Contributing to the establishment of an effective ministry, one that is capable of contributing to sustained improvements in the rural economy of Afghanistan through provision of technical assistance, training, and institutional support.

Office of Administrative Affairs and Council of Ministers' Secretariat (Office of the President)-Capacity Enhancement Program

Providing training and support for key staff in the Office of Administrative Affairs and Council of Ministers Secretariat to improve the effectiveness of their operations and coordination with other ministries.

Performance Based Governance Fund

Assisting the Afghan government in addressing the multi-faceted weaknesses and problems of subnational governance at the provincial levels. Providing additional operational and community resources to provincial government entities to further strengthen the effectiveness and responsiveness of subnational governance in Afghanistan.

Local Partners:

Governors' Offices through the Independent Directorate of Local Governance

Raising Public Awareness and Strengthening the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs, and the Disabled to Better Protect the Rights of Workers in Afghanistan

Increasing understanding and awareness of the Afghan labor law and international labor standards within the ministry, other government institutions at the national and provincial levels, civil society organizations, and Afghan society.

Strengthening Education in Afghanistan

Increasing the quality of educational opportunities for students and educational institutions through capacity building, technical support, and a flexible small grants program. Providing assessments that allows partners, as well as the government, to assess certain activities for possible replication or as a model for the country.

Strengthening Organizations Engaged in Civic Education and Elections

Building the skills of civil society organizations (CSOs), government bodies, and political parties involved in civic education and elections processes by providing learning-by-doing training sessions in communications, finance, monitoring and evaluation, and democracy, elections, and governance. Supporting the goals and objectives of the Independent Election Commission, political parties, and various members of Afghan civil society.

Support to Lama-e-Shaheed Girls' High School

Supporting Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage through the Expansion of International Ties

Strengthening and expanding ties between the United States and Afghanistan through a cultural exchange program between Americans and governmental and civil society leaders in Ghazni province. Providing administrative and logistical support for a delegation of Americans to Afghanistan (Kabul and Ghazni) and of Afghans to the United States.

Survey of the Afghan People

Gathering first-hand opinions from a broad and nationally representative sample of Afghan citizens on a variety of contemporary governance and development-related issues. Providing policymakers in government, the international community, and the broader Afghan public with reliable data as they make decisions and craft future policy.

Traditional Leaders Discovery Project

Increasing the engagement and knowledge of male and female religious and tribal leaders with the wider Islamic world through a series of exchange visits to other Muslim countries. Contributing to a broader understanding of how scholars and community leaders of other Muslim nations are able to accommodate and negotiate with contemporary issues of human rights, women's rights, democracy, minority rights, ethics, tolerance and social development, and transitional justice.

Trust Building Initiatives between State and Non-State Institutions

Responding to the heavy impact, from many years of disruption and conflict, on government and civil institutions in Faryab province to promote social stability and civic engagement. Promoting both through the recognition of religion in Afghan society. Working with both governmental and nongovernmental institutions, religious leaders and institutions, and community leaders, to reduce the gap between government and people and to engage them in social development and strengthen local governance.

Women's Access to Justice Model Community Program

Improving access to justice for women in Kunduz province through increasing understanding and support of women's rights among local women and key provincial actors by working with both male and female Community Dialogue Groups, female Madrasas, community leaders, provincial Ulama council and Khateebs of Masjids. Establishing mechanisms between formal and informal justice systems to resolve cases in favor of women including DoWA and Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) committees. Developing a training curriculum for community and government stakeholders after religious leaders and scholars have reviewed the EVAW law.

Afghanistan Centre for Socio-Economic Opinion Research (ACSOR)

Afghanistan Institute of Learning

Support for participation of two staff members in the Nature Action Forum, which brought together teams from around the world to share their experiences and learn new skills for connecting children with nature.

Aid Afghanistan for Education

An Indian Perspective on Afghanistan and Regional Issues

Roundtable discussion featuring Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya, a senior diplomat in India's Ministry of External Affairs, and an Asia Foundation regional security studies fellow. The ambassador conducted research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focusing on U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan and its implications for India and the region.

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

Supporting the ANFREL international election mission team to observe the 2010 national elections; Training for domestic election observers in the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA).

Bacha Khan Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Books for Asia Afghanistan

Acquisition and distribution of more than 42,715 books, CDs, and journals to 236 schools, universities, civil society organizations, governmental institutions, and other institutions across Afghanistan.

Government Media Information Center

High Office of Oversight for Anti-Corruption; Office of Administrative Affairs (OAA); Council of Ministers Secretariat; and Office of State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (OSMPA) in the Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Strategic support to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan including anti-corruption initiatives; Advisory support to the OAA and Council of Ministers Secretariat on center of government functions; Information and Communications Technology support to the OSMPA; Advisory support to the OSMPA on executive-legislative relations and harmonious working relationships within the Three Pillars system of the Constitution.

Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)

Performance-based operational funding for 34 provincial governor’s offices; Technical assistance to provincial administrations in planning, budgeting, and auditing; Support to the IDLG at the central level; Technical support to governor’s offices in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces.

Independent Election Commission (IEC)

Support for the Public Outreach Department’s publication of Youth and Democracy books and IEC quarterly magazine; Institutional support for the IEC Resource Center; Participation in a librarianship study tour with the Library of Congress, Islamabad, Pakistan; Training for the External Relations Department; Translation of training modules on electoral training, civic education, voter information, and strategic planning; Training for political parties.

Korea-Developing Asia Relations - Development Challenges and International Cooperation: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan

International conference that brought together senior government officials and development specialists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Korea to identify and discuss some of their key development and security challenges.

Ministry of Education

Ministry of External Affairs

Fellowship for a foreign service officer at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to conduct research and engage in discussions with policy specialists on challenges on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border and the implications for U.S.-India relations; Participation of four foreign service officers in a two-week course on U.S. Foreign Policy at George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs, followed by a study tour to promote greater understanding of U.S. foreign policy and domestic issues that may influence U.S.-India relations.

Moving from Theory to Practice on Political Approaches to Development: Case Studies from Afghanistan, Nepal, and the Philippines

Panel discussion featuring The Asia Foundation's country representatives in Nepal and the Philippines, Dr. George Varughese and Dr. Steven Rood respectively; Dr. William S. Cole, the Foundation's senior director for Governance, Law, and Civil Society Programs; Letitia Butler, director of policy at USAID; and moderated by Tom Carothers, vice president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The panel focused on the effectiveness of political economy approaches to economic and political development programs in both conflict and non-conflict environments.

National Centre for Policy Research (NCPR)

A roundtable on the findings of the nationwide public opinion poll, “Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People”; Internship program related to survey research for the 2010 Afghan Public Opinion Survey.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Support for Afghanistan (PARSA)

Community agricultural training and women’s rural enterprise development in the Bamiyan Family Park; Incorporating psychosocial training curriculum for Afghan school girls into the Kabul University’s Psychology Department’s professional training program.

Women and Children Legal Research Foundation

"Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People"

Washington D.C. launch of "Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People" featuring The Asia Foundation's technical advisor & program officer and deputy country representative in Kabul. The speakers discussed the fifth comprehensive public opinion survey conducted in all 34 of Afghanistan's provinces, and was moderated by the director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United States Institute of Peace.

Afghanistan Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency

Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit

Research for a briefing paper on mapping of student politics from an organizational point of view and how political parties recruit students on campus which will be distributed in three languages to government officials, NGOs, Afghan universities, and international stakeholders.

Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan

High Office of Oversight for Anti-Corruption; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Office of Administration Affairs; Office of State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (OSMPA)

Strategic support to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan including anti-corruption initiatives; English-language training program for diplomats and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA); Support to OSMPA for a program providing technical support to the Office of State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs to nurture harmonious working of the Three Pillars system of the Constitution; Support to raise awareness of civil society about the Constitution.

Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG)

Support to the Independent Directorate for Local Governance at the central level, as well as the Strategic Coordination Unit of IDLG; Technical support to governors' offices in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces.

National Center for Policy and Research

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services for Afghanistan (PARSA)

Developing a psychosocial training for Afghan school girls in Kabul and incorporating the resulting curriculum into Kabul University's Psychology Department's training program for professionals; Educating children at orphanages and formal schools through the "Healthy Afghan Girls Program" in Kabul.

AINA Media

AWAZ Production

Installation of equipment at the Office of Presidential Spokesperson, Government Media Center, training to media technicians, and design of the Presidential Office Website; Development and broadcasting of public service announcements for Ministry of Education Preparatory Course program.

Afghanistan Center for Research and Policy Studies

Afghanistan Center for Social and Economic Research

Implementation of a long-term measurement of public opinion on political processes, government performance, and hope/concern for the future across Afghanistan through nationwide survey: “Afghanistan in 2008: A Survey of the Afghan People.” The survey reached over 6,500 respondents in 34 provinces.

Afghanistan Independent Rehabilitation Organization

Afghanistan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

Nine-member delegation from Afghanistan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development to meet with counterparts at the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in India for their First Meeting of the India-Afghanistan Joint Working Group on Local Governance.

Afghanistan Office of Administrative Affairs

Eight-member delegation of government officials from the Afghanistan Office of Administrative Affairs to attend a Rai Foundation-sponsored South Asia Regional Forum, “Global Network of Government Innovators,” at the Ash Institute in New Delhi.

Afghanistan Office of the President, Administrative Affairs

Training for Afghan ministry officials and members of the president’s staff with government institutions in India; Support to attend regional conferences in India on government innovations, and learning exchanges on administrative reforms.

Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies

Recruitment and training of highly qualified and professional Afghans for research purposes; Data collection and profile creation of provinces, districts, and villages to find active political personalities; Daily and weekly collection and analysis of political and security developments for the newly decreed Independent Directorate for Local Governance.

Information Technology Technical Assistance

Information technology support for the Chief of Staff’s Office, Office of Administrative Affairs, Council of Ministers, Afghan Government Media Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Independent Directorate for Local Governance, Peace Jirga Secretariat, Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, Presidential Protection Services, Office of the Vice President, and Ministry of Women’s Affairs which included planning, deployment, and support of enterprise level network and systems infrastructures and applications; Information technology training and strategic planning assistance.

Office of Administrative Affairs (OAA)

Office of the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs

Provision of a long-term technical advisor; Development of a code of conduct for the Three Pillars (executive, legislative, and judicial); Capacity building for staff of the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services for Afghanistan

Rabia-e Balkhi Girls High School Resource Center

Continued support for educational programs at Rabia-e Balkhi Girls high school, including more books and educational materials for their library, additional computers, a projector for their computer center, and an increased number of workshops and conferences undertaken in their conference facilities.

Study Tour

Study Visits

Study visit for five high-level staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct an assessment of Afghan Embassies in four different countries in the central Asia region: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan; Support to three high-ranking Afghan Government officials to participate in the conference, “Effective Capacity Building for Senior Public Officials,” conducted by the International Institute of Public Policy and Management at the University of Malaya; Facilitation of a study tour for four staff from the Independent Election Commission to exchange with the respective election commission staff in Australia and Nepal; Facilitation of a study visit for 11 officials from counterparts in the Indian Government, the Independent Directorate for Local Governance and Ministry for Rehabilitation and Rural Development; Study tour for 21 Afghan Government officials representing various ministries and departments to visit Malaysia for IMPUMA 2008 training; Study tour to facilitate the Deputy Chief of Staff to participate in “Leaders in Development” conference; Support to Member of Parliament, Ms. Shinkai Zahine Karokhail, to participate in the “International Leaders Forum” in Denver, Colorado; Support to three ranking Afghan Government officials to participate in training on “Senior Management Program” conducted by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in the National University of Singapore.

Teacher Training

Technical Assistance

Support to the Afghan Independent Election Commission on capacity building through one international consultant, one national consultant, and six seconded staff (four translators and two public outreach officers); Secondment of 23 staff to the Ministry of State for Parliamentary Affairs; Secondment of nine staff and one international consultant to the Office of Administrative Affairs (Monitoring and Evaluation Department); Secondment of five staff to Peace Jirga Secretariat; Secondment of eight staff and one international consultant to the Independent Directorate for Local Governance; Secondment of 11 staff and two international consultants to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Secondment of nine staff and one international consultant to the Afghan Government Media Centre; Support to strengthen the Center of Government through Insight Solutions, and more than 15 international and national technical consultants; Technical assistance provided for facilities, information technology, training, administrative work processes, policy processes, and human resource management.

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance through three international consultants and six national consultants to support the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWa) in the following areas: improving policy development through effective information collection systems; strengthening the capacity of ministry provincial offices; establishing a Media and Communications Directorate and Office of MoWA spokesperson.

The British Council

The Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan (WADAN)

Research to strengthen government institutions at the sub-national level and the implementation of the Afghan Social Outreach Program in Wardak Province; Facilitation of regional consultation on sub-national governance policy.

Afghan Community Development Organization

Afghan National Participation Association (ANPA)

Production of 23 radio programs related to the formation of a new
parliament and citizen participation in political processes. Materials
included a 15-minute drama and a 15-minute interactive dialogue
broadcast across Afghanistan through a network of independent radio
stations.

Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief

American University of Afghanistan

Asian Perspectives - Challenges in South Asia: Afghanistan and Pakistan

Luncheon featuring The Asia Foundation’s Afghanistan Deputy Country Representative, Dr. George Varughese and then-Pakistan Country Representative, Mr. Hamid Sharif. The event was moderated by Ms. Ellen Laipson, President and CEO of the Henry L. Stimson Center and an Asia Foundation trustee. Dr. Varughese and Mr. Sharif provided an insight into the political developments in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Additionally, the luncheon included a presentation of the findings of The Asia Foundation survey, Afghanistan in 2006, the largest public opinion poll ever administered in Afghanistan.

Books for Asia Afghanistan

Center for International Journalism (CIJ)

Content analysis of Pazhwak and Killid magazines by professional
reporters; One-week training of trainers on investigative journalism
conducted by three international trainers for CIJ trainers; Two
provincial workshops conducted for 40 reporters from different
provinces; Two-week workshop on the basics of journalism with 20
journalists in attendance; 40 investigative reports on different topics
written for publication from different parts of the country; Assessment
of CIJ internal management and financial systems.

Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies

Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies

Recruitment and training of Afghan researchers; data
collection; profiling of provinces, districts and villages; political and
security analysis for the newly-decreed Independent Directorate for Local
Governance (IDLG).

Darul-Ulum Madrassa

Emerging Issues - Afghanistan: A Survey of the Afghan People

Breakfast discussion featuring The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Afghanistan, Dr. George Varughese. The discussion focused on the findings contained within The Asia Foundation’s publication: State Building, Political Progress, and Human Security in Afghanistan: Reflections on a Survey of the Afghan People, a compendium of Afghanistan in 2006.

Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA)

Capacity building for FEFA secretariat; participation in a
BRAC-Afghanistan training in public relations and presentation skills; training
in Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE); and
organization and monitoring of civil voter registration in three districts.

Green Way Organization

Health and Development Center for Afghan Women (HDCAW)

Production of seven editions of an interactive comic
magazine, Roshani, targeting young
women, students, and teachers with information about market research, content
and creative development. HDCAW engaged writers, designers, and artists; and
received assistance from the Afghan Civil Society Forum, the Center for
International Journalism, and the Independent Election Commission.

Independent Directorate for Local Governance

Jalal Foundation

Celebration of International Women’s Day in Kabul province through awareness-raising on basic legal documents for 100 women; oversight of Rabia-e Balkhi resource center and master’s degree program in the Department of Language and Literature at Kabul University.

Kabul University Faculty of Languages and Literature

Support for the first year one of a two-year’s master’s program for 22
master’s degree students; Establishment of a new post-graduate
department within the Faculty of Language and Literature at Kabul
University.

Kabul University Medical Faculty

Legal and Cultural Services for Afghan Women and Children

Celebration of International Women’s Day in Logar province through awareness-raising on basic legal documents for 400 women and conducted three Dari-language discussion groups in Kabul province for 100 teachers on topics related to women’s rights within an Islamic perspective.

Minister of Women's Affairs

Supported the participation of Minister of Women’s Affairs H.E. Hussn Banu Ghazanfar in a ministerial round-table at the Global Summit of Women in Berlin, Germany. The focus of the summit was on public/private sector partnership to advance economic opportunities for girls and women.

Ministry of Education

Week-long facilitation workshop for 35 high school teachers to carry
out a preparatory course for the National College entrance examination.
The course was conducted for 607 boys and 69 girls in Badghis, Helmand,
Paktika, Uruzgan, Farah, Saripul, and Samangan provinces.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Women's Affairs

Technical assistance through five international consultants and three national consultants to: improve policy development through effective information collection systems; strengthen capacity of ministry provincial offices; establish a Public Relations and Information Directorate.

Puli- e Charki Prison

Rabia-e Balkhi Girls High School Resource Center

Continued support for educational programs at Rabia-e Balkhi Girls high
school including increased book and educational materials for their
library, additional computers and a projector for their computer
center, and increased number of workshop and conferences undertaken in
their conference facilities.

Sayara Media Communication

Study Visit

Facilitated a study tour for four staff from the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to exchange with counterparts in Armenia. Facilitated a visit for ten officials from the Office of Administrative Affairs, the upper and lower houses of Parliament, and the Supreme Court to study the Three Pillars of the Indian Government. Facilitated observer mission to Australia for the November 2007 parliamentary elections.

Technical Assistance

Capacity building for the Independent Election Commission through five
international consultants, one national consultant, and four seconded
translators; Establishment of a resource center at the Independent
Election Commission; Secondment of six staff to the Ministry of State
for Parliamentary Affairs; Secondment of two staff to the Office of
Administrative Affairs, and support to strengthen the Center of
Government through Insight Solutions, and more than15 international and
national technical consultants; Technical assistance provided for
facilities, information technology, training, administrative work
processes, policy processes and human resource management.

The Killid Group

Support for the March 2007 international conference “Media
is Development”, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Afghanistan’s media
and strengthening links with actors both inside and outside the country.